Sliven

Sliven (Template:Lang-bg) is a town in southeast Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Sliven Province. It is a relatively large town with 110,000 inhabitants (the 8th largest in Bulgaria). Sliven is famous for its Bulgarian haiduts who fought against the Ottoman Turks in the 19th century. The current mayor of the city is former football star Yordan Letchkov.

View of Sliven and the lowlands of Thrace from southern Stara Planina

Statue of Hadzhi Dimitar in Sliven

The famous rocky massif Sinite Kamani (Сините камъни, "The Blue Rocks") and the associated national park, the fresh air and the mineral springs offer diverse opportunities for leisure and tourism.

Another point of interest and symbol of the city, as featured on the coat of arms, is the thousand-year-old Stariya Briast (Старият Бряст, "The Old Elm"), a large Smooth-leaved Elm in the center of the city. During the time of the Ottoman Occupation, Turkish officials would hang Bulgarian revolutionaries on the tree. In modern times, the city is doing its best to keep the tree alive with the addition of cement to the base.

Sliven Peak on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named for Sliven.

Geography and Climate

Sliven is located 300km west of Bulgaria's capital Sofia, 110km from Burgas, the country's largest commercial port, 130km from the border with Greece and 130km from the border with Turkey. It is located in close proximity to the cities of Yambol and Nova Zagora.

West of the city lies the so called Peach Valley which contains large peach orchards. The city is also known for its mineral baths whose water is used to treat diseases of the liver and nervous system.

The most visited geographical location and attraction in the city is the Karandila (Карандила). It is a hilltop 1050m above sealevel, with great sights overlooking the city. On the Karandila is the rock formation Hulkata (Хaлката, "The Ring"). It is a rock protrusion with an interesting, yet peculiar hole in the center. According to myth, one would change gender upon passing through the ring.

History

Remains of the oldest settlements on the territory of Sliven date back to around 6000 B.C.E of the neolithic. Ruins of a Thracian settlement dating to around 5th–3rd century B.C.E as well as Thracian ceramics and Hellenistic coins have been discovered in the area of Hisarlaka — a small hill in Sliven. The area occupied by present-day Sliven has in the past been settled by the Thracian tribes Asti, Kabileti and Seleti. These tribes held their independence until time of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great who conquered them.

The second century B.C.E. marked the beginning of the Roman conquests of northeastern Thracia. Sliven became part of the Roman Empire around 71–72 B.C.E. when the Thracian cities of Kabile and Apolonia are conquered. With the emergence of the Roman Empire the region of the city became part of the Thracian province of the Roman Empire.

A new stage in the city's history began around 2nd–4th century B.C.E. The first written records of the settlement's name, Tuida/Suida/Tsuida date to this period. This name is most likely of Thracian origin. Its etymology is currently not understood.

In more modern times, Sliven became one of the most significant cultural centres during the Bulgarian National Revival, with much of its old heritage still preserved and enriched its heritage and today offers to its citizens and visitors a lot of opportunities for cultural life. It served as the birthplace of many prominent Bulgarians who contributed to the enlightenment such as Julia Kristeva, Hadzhi Dimitar, Dobri Chintulov, Evgeniy Chapkanov, Ivan Siliminski and many others. Another notable native is Anton Pann who composed the Romanian national anthem.

Economy

The economy of Sliven has centered around industry since the early 19th century. In 1834, Dobri Zhelyazkov established the first factory in Bulgarian lands, thus starting industrial development in Bulgaria. Sliven was one of the largest industrial centers in Bulgaria, playing an important role during the Bulgarian National Revival. It has long-lived traditions in textiles, machine-building, glass-making, chemical production, and the technical аnd food industries. Following the beginning of communist rule in Bulgaria in 1944, most industries were nationalized and much industrial building and development was spurred. Industry continued to develop until the fall of communism, at which point much of the previously built industry stagnated; many plants and factories were shut down and there was little development. In contemporary times, Sliven has experienced a surge in economy with increased investment, banking establishments and new industries have began to emerge. The diary and wine industries, with companies such as Vinprom and about a dozen others, continue to thrive.

Culture

There are many buildings in the city built in the National Revival Architecture style, including the Hadzhi Dimitur House-Museum. It is in the south western part of the town and shows visitors a complex of a native memorial home and an old traditional inn. The Dobry Chintulov Memorial House Museum is on the North side of Sliven; it was the home of the Bulgarian revival teacher and poet Dobry Chintulov.

Demographics

According to 2007 estimates the Sliven municipality has a population of 147,557, while the city Sliven 112,103 citizens.

Ethnic Groups

Members of the following ethnic groups are represented in the city's population.

• Bulgarians
• Armenians
• Jewish
• Turkish
• Roma (Gypsies)
• Sarakatsani

Municipality

Sliven is the administrative centre of the eponymous Sliven municipality (part of Sliven Province), which includes the following 49 places (towns in bold):

Bikovo Binkos Blatets Bozhevtsi Bozadzhii Byala Chintulovo Chokoba Dragodanovo Gavrailovo Gergevets Glufishevo Glushnik Golyamo Chochoveni Gorno Aleksandrovo Gradsko Ichera Izgrev Kaloyanovo Kamen Kermen Kovachite Krushare

Malko Chochoveni Mechkarevo Mladovo Nikolaevo Novachevo Panaretovtsi Rachenitsa Rakovo Samuilovo Seliminovo Skobelevo Sliven Sotirya Sredorek Stara Reka Staro Selo Strupets Topolchane Trapoklovo Vaglen Zaychari Zhelyu Voyvoda Zlati Voyvoda

Town twinning

• Gera, Germany
• Pécs, Hungary
• Voronezh, Russia
• Svetlahorsk, Belarus

Football

Ofk Sliven

Trivia

• Sliven is the only town in Bulgaria to have retained its Slavonic name

External links

• Digital photos from Sliven
• Official site of Sliven
• Sliven at Pictures of Bulgaria
• Guide to Sliven district, cities, villages and regions
• Sliven.net
• Sliven.government.bg
• Sliven.start.bg
• Sliven on Google Maps
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